Nearly twice as many reports of homophobia to Kick It Out compared to last season
Football v Homophobia campaign responds to Kick It Out’s end-of-season reporting statistics; FvH director Lou Englefield calls for greater “education, awareness and allyship” from influential figures on LGBTQ inclusion in football…
Reports of homophobia submitted to Kick It Out have surged by nearly 50 per cent over the past season, according to the latest figures released by the anti-discrimination charity.
The end-of-season statistics reveal a troubling picture across all levels of the game, prompting campaign group Football v Homophobia (FvH) to issue an urgent call for football’s top leaders to step up and take meaningful action.
During the 2025/26 campaign, Kick It Out received 203 reports of homophobia – a 46 per cent increase compared to the previous season.
The data highlights a growing problem that affects individual match-going fans and groups of supporters across stadiums as well as players and spectators in grassroots environments.
According to Kick It Out, the number of reports involving homophobic and transphobic mass chanting during the 2025/26 season matched the combined total recorded over the previous four seasons.
Meanwhile, in youth football, reports of homophobic incidents saw an alarming 90 per cent increase. Reports involving the abuse of match officials also rose over the same period.
In total, Kick It Out recorded over 1,000 incidents of discrimination across all categories during the season, and a 25 per cent overall increase in reports compared to 2024/25.
Responding to the numbers, FvH director Lou Englefield emphasised that football cannot afford to stand by while prejudice grows.
“We echo Kick It Out’s concern that divisive political rhetoric in Britain is fuelling discrimination,” Englefield said.
“To combat this, we call on senior leaders in football and all those with influence to take more meaningful steps in support of education, awareness and allyship.”
Englefield noted the power that role models hold in making spaces welcoming for everyone. “LGBTQ+ people feel safer to be themselves when they see action being taken that is inclusive and welcoming, particularly from those they look up to in the sport they love,” she added.
“With more than 1,000 discrimination incidents recorded by Kick It Out last season, football cannot and must not be complacent.”
The sharp rise reported by Kick It Out aligns with broader trends noted across the British game.
Data recently published by the Home Office showed a clear rise in football-related hate crime incidents reported to police during matches, along with a nearly 73 per cent surge in online hate crime and abuse linked to football.
Furthermore, the Football Association’s Grassroots Discipline Review published in December 2025 highlighted a continued rise in sexual orientation allegations at amateur levels. Homophobia remains the most common proven disciplinary charge in grassroots football, outnumbering any other form of discrimination.
Despite the growing statistics, the true extent of the issue is likely much higher. In its Grassroots Review, the FA acknowledged a persistent “reporting gap,” noting that many serious cases go unreported due to fear of escalation or a lack of confidence in the reporting system.
FvH has a reporting relationship with Kick It Out. Both groups are urging anyone who witnesses or experiences anti-LGBTQ+ behaviour, whether in stadiums, on local pitches, or online, to come forward and report it.
Recent changes in U.K. law have classified anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes as aggravated offences, offering stronger legal penalties against offenders. Campaigners hope these changes, combined with stronger institutional backing, will encourage more victims and allies to report incidents.
As the pre-season build-up continues ahead of 2026/27, the hope is that more sustained education, more visible leadership, and firmer sanctions can help to reduce anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, both on and off the pitch.
Visit the FvH website for more information about the campaign.
Check out our archive of related content, including episodes of the FvH Podcast.
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